TW201502691A - Systems and methods for generating a panoramic image - Google Patents

Abstract

Systems and methods for generating a panoramic image include capturing image data from a plurality of cameras and storing the image data within a memory buffer of the respective camera; transmitting image data from an upstream camera to a downstream camera; and combining, within the downstream camera, the image data from the upstream camera with the image data of the downstream camera as combined image data. Each of the plurality of cameras may include an imaging array for capturing image data of a scene; a receiver for receiving image data from an upstream camera of the plurality of cameras; a memory buffer for: combining the image data received from the upstream camera with image data captured by the imaging array to form combined image data, and storing the combined image data; and a transmitter for transmitting the stored combined image data to a downstream camera of the plurality of camera.

Description

System and method for generating panoramic images

The present invention is directed to an image sensor that produces a panoramic view. Specifically, a Mobile Industry Processor Interface (MIPI) daisy chain is constructed using a plurality of CMOS image sensors to construct a panoramic view.

Smart phones usually use a single camera to create a panoramic image, and the user needs to adjust the angle and position of the camera to capture multiple images. However, this operation is cumbersome and requires user's mind and skill. In addition, the fusion of multiple scenes into a panoramic image is a major technical test.

A first aspect of the present invention discloses a method for generating a panoramic image, comprising: image data captured by a plurality of cameras, and storing the image data in image memory in a memory buffer of a respective camera; The upstream camera transmits the image data to the downstream camera; and in the downstream camera, combines the image data of the upstream camera with the image data of the downstream camera to become combined image data.

A second aspect of the present invention discloses a system for generating a panoramic image, comprising a plurality of cameras each having an imaging array for capturing scene image data for receiving image data of a plurality of camera upstream cameras. The receiver and the memory buffer combine the image data received by the upstream camera with the image data captured by the imaging array to be combined image data and stored, and to transmit the combined image data to a plurality of The transmitter of the camera downstream of the camera.

1, 2, 102, 104, 106, 302a-302d, 307a-307d‧‧‧ cameras

100‧‧‧ daisy chain

108‧‧‧Host

110‧‧‧Data lines, lines

112, 114, 116‧‧‧ array

113, 115, 117‧‧‧ image data, data

118, 120, 122‧‧ ‧ buffer

124, 126, 128‧‧‧ MIPI Receiver

130, 132, 134‧‧‧ MIPI transmitter

300‧‧‧Configuration

302A-302D‧‧‧ sides

302, 304, 306‧‧‧ configuration

308‧‧‧CPU

400‧‧‧ method

402, 404, 406, 408, 410, 412‧ ‧ steps

500‧‧‧ address identification code

600, 700‧‧‧ data transmission diagram

601‧‧‧Write bit

701‧‧‧Reading bit

602, 702, 704‧‧‧ certification

800‧‧‧General Call

The invention will be described in detail in the preferred embodiments and aspects. The following figures and description are provided to provide a detailed description of the specific embodiments of the present invention, and to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention may be practiced without these details. In addition, some well-known structures or functions or details are not described herein to avoid various embodiments. The terms in the following description are to be interpreted in a broadest sense, even if they are used in conjunction with the detailed description of a particular embodiment of the invention. In addition, the drawings do not depict each feature of the actual embodiments, and the depicted figures are in relative dimensions and not drawn to scale. The same component symbols in the drawings represent the same components, however, for the purpose of clarity, the components that are repeated in different figures are not necessarily labeled with the component symbols. The above aspects and the advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description, and the <RTIgt;

1 is a daisy chain architecture diagram of a plurality of imaging arrays displaying panoramic images in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

The second illustration is a schematic diagram showing a processing procedure for receiving data rows by a plurality of cameras according to the first diagram of the daisy chain.

Figure 3 shows an exemplary configuration of a plurality of cameras within a daisy chain.

Figure 4 is a flow chart showing the imagery produced by the camera daisy chain in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5 is an address identification code for each device in the daisy chain according to Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a diagram showing the data transfer of a master device to a secondary device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 7 is a schematic diagram showing the data transfer of a master device reading a secondary device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 8 shows the general call on the I ² C bus line of Figure 1.

Embodiments of the present invention are applicable to panoramic or surround view imaging, 3D imaging, gesture recognition. The cameras described herein are coupled by a cable to a daisy chain rather than an optical fiber.

A plurality of cameras (or image sensors) can implement a panoramic view. In some embodiments, after the camera alignment is pre-calibrated, the plurality of cameras need not be aligned with either axis. Since there is overlap between a plurality of cameras, one-time programmable (OTP) memory is programmed to read out, so that the panoramic images produced by the camera are not overlapped.

In one embodiment, no image memory is present, only column buffer memory. In another embodiment, the additional image memory described below is used to process each individual image and combine it.

In some embodiments, the line buffer shares data with a picture-in-picture (PIP) main buffer.

The horizontal blanking time (H blanking time) is defined by the time required for each image column data collected by each sensor to be transmitted to the host. For example, the H blanking time can be proportional to the number of image sensors in the system. The data transmission rate (ie, transmission and reception rate) is limited by the transmission channel (Tx) and reception channel (Rx) of MIPI.

In one embodiment, the global internal integrated circuit identification code (I ² C ID) is used to identify the camera chain (or image sensor), and each individual I ² C ID is used to identify each specific camera (or Image sensor). Each camera loads its respective I ² C ID from the OTP memory during initial setup. Embodiments related to the I ² C protocol are discussed in further detail below. In one embodiment, the described "intermediate" sensor is only used to bypass data. The camera alignment of an embodiment is shown in Figure 3, for example, device 302 depicts a panoramic image produced by four cameras located on a cell phone. Configuration 304 describes an embodiment of gesture recognition. Configuration 306 is from a top perspective to describe an exemplary automotive monitoring system.

1 is a schematic diagram showing a daisy chain 100 of a plurality of imaging arrays for forming a panoramic image in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The daisy chain 100 can be a MIPI daisy chain that includes an input interface and an output interface. Control signals from the host processor are input to each camera through the I ² C line. In addition, each camera includes a sync signal (FSIN) input so that all cameras simultaneously acquire images. The advantage of synchronization is that the image There is no motion blur between them.

The MIPI daisy chain 100 includes three imaging cameras 102, 104, and 106 coupled in series with each other and coupled to the host 108 by an I ² C data line 110. The host 108 can be a processor, or other alternative host 108, preferably a downstream camera, that includes a processor that controls the timing of the upstream camera via the I ² C data line 110. The present invention is not limited to only the I ² C bus bar protocol, that is, the cameras 102, 104 and 106 and the host 108 can be coupled by other connection protocols, and further, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. In the case of the daisy chain 100, more or fewer cameras may be included, not limited to three cameras.

Each camera 102, 104, and 106 has associated camera sub-elements that include, for example, an imaging array (such as arrays 112, 114, 116 within the camera), associated buffers (such as buffers 118, 120, and 122), Associated MIPI receivers (such as MIPI receivers 124, 126, and 128) and associated MIPI transmitters (i.e., MIPI transmitters 130, 132, and 134). The imaging arrays 112, 114, 116 include CMOS, CCD, NMOS, Live MOS, or other photosensitive pixels capable of generating panoramic image data Array. Buffers 118, 120, and 122 are memory buffers for storing image data from individual imaging arrays, as well as image data received from upstream cameras within daisy chain 100, for example, a second camera. The buffer 120 of 104 is used to store image data from the array 114, as well as image data stored from the MIPI Tx 130 of the camera 102 and received by the MIPI Rx 126. The MIPI receiver is configured to receive image data from the upstream camera (ie, MIPI Rx 126 of camera 104 receives image data from MIPI Tx 130 of camera 102), and the MIPI transceiver transmits image data to the downstream camera (ie, MIPI Tx 132 transmits data) To MIPI Rx 128).

As shown in Figure 1, the upstream camera is toward the left and the downstream camera is toward the right, where camera 102 is the first camera in MIPI daisy chain 100, all cameras 102, 104 and 106 (and potential host 108, if the host is Camera) Obtain image data of an image scene at the same time. For example, cameras 102, 104, and 106 can acquire one or more rows of image data and store them in respective buffers 118, 120, and 122. Arrows (1), (4), and (9) in Fig. 1 represent image data transmitted from each array to each buffer. Starting with the first camera 102, image data stored in the buffer 118 is transmitted from the first camera 102 to the second camera 104, the image data being coupled to the image data stored in the buffer 120. For example, MIPI Tx 130 transmits the image data stored in buffer 118 to MIPI Rx 126 of camera 104 as indicated by arrow (3); continuation, as indicated by arrow (5), MIPI Rx of intermediate camera 104 126 sends the image data of the first camera 102 adjacent to the upstream to the column buffer 120, and stores the image data in series with the image data generated by the array 112 in combination with the image data generated by the array 114. Data transfer processes as indicated by arrows (2), (3), and (5) may be performed after the first row of image data is transmitted to buffer 118, but prior to collecting full array image data of array 112. The execution begins, that is, when the camera 102 captures image data via the array 112, the camera 102 can simultaneously transmit image data to the camera 104.

Once combined within the buffer 120, the combined image data will be transmitted to the MIPI Tx 132 as indicated by arrow (6), which in turn transmits the image data to the MIPI Rx of the next adjacent downstream camera (i.e., the MIPI Rx of the camera 106). 128) The above is to simultaneously capture image data. It should be understood that each camera may need to capture image data at the same time. In this embodiment, after or before the MIPI Tx 130 of the camera 102 receives the image data, the camera 104 may perform a capture scene to image. Therefore, the order of data transmission as indicated by arrows (4) and (5) can be reversed.

The data referred to by arrows (3) through (6) are transmitted repeatedly to each additional downstream camera (i.e., camera 106) in the MIPI daisy chain 100, for example, in data transmission (7), The MIPI Tx 132 of the camera 104 transmits the data combination to the MIPI Rx 128 of the downstream right camera 106, continuing the same process in the rightmost camera 106, as indicated by arrows (8)-(10), and finally, at the daisy chain 100. The last camera in the middle transmits the total data combination row (11) to the host 108.

The time taken to transfer the image data from the most upstream camera (i.e., camera 102) to the host 108 is defined as the H blanking time of the overall daisy chain 100. The H blanking time is significantly less than the processing time required to transfer all image data from each camera and the processor to combine the image data into one. For example, by "scanning" the first row of primitives, and continuing to scan the second row of primitives, etc., and so on, all scans of the primitives are completed, so that the camera captures image data. Advantageously, in the daisy chain 100 configuration, the first row of image data from the most upstream camera can be transmitted to the next downstream camera before the full imaging array scan of the first camera is completed, thereby generating a panoramic image The processing time required is significantly reduced. In addition, since OTP defines the fusion characteristics between each adjacent camera in the daisy chain, it does not require a large amount of processing time required by complex image fusion techniques to reduce the overall processing time.

In an embodiment, the architectural features in each of the cameras in FIG. 1 can be summarized as follows: First, each camera reads the same timing column row and stores it in the associated column buffer; second, MIPI Tx receives MIPI column data from the column buffer and passes it to the next camera in sequence. At the same time, each camera starts to read the next timing column row. Third, MIPI Rx receives MIPI column data from the upstream camera. It is passed to the column buffer, and the last camera MIPI column data is passed to the host.

According to the above, the image is composed of a plurality of rows. Embodiments are used to illustrate how image data is generated, linked, and transmitted for each row. Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a processing procedure for receiving data rows by a plurality of cameras according to the daisy chain 100 of Fig. 1. Data cameras 1, 2, and 3 (not shown) may correspond to cameras 112, 114, 116 of Figure 1, and each data will produce a respective row 1, where each row of 1 data is transmitted through the column buffer, The combination is finally sent to the processor (or camera host) to form the last row 1 as shown, and the above process is analogized to rows 2, 3, and so on.

According to this, each current camera in the daisy chain receives the combined image data of each upstream camera, adds the image data from the current camera to the combined image data, and continues to send the updated combined image data downstream. To the next camera in the daisy chain, as shown by the circle in Figure 1. For example, data 113 of camera 102 is initially stored in buffer 118, traversing each downstream buffer 120 and 122, with data 113 combined with additional data from each downstream camera. Similarly, data 115 is initially stored in buffer 120, which combines data with data 113 in buffer 120, In the buffer 122, the combined data 113 and 115 are combined with the data 117. This process is iterated until all of the combined data is transferred to the host 108. As described above, the camera is aligned to complete the pre-calibration of the OTP, and although there is still a problem of overlapping between a plurality of cameras, the OTP memory is programmably and accurately read so that there is no overlap in the panoramic view.

Figure 3 shows an exemplary configuration of a plurality of cameras within a daisy chain. Each camera is located on each side of the object. For example, configuration 300 displays a smart phone configuration diagram with four cameras 302a-302d (shown by dashed circles), with each camera located on each side of the smartphone 302A-302D, as shown, the camera 302a is located on the front side 302A, camera 302b is located on the back side 302B, camera 302c is located on the left side 302C, and camera 302d is located on the right side 302D. The configuration of the camera is daisy chain, so the panoramic image produced by the smart phone combines the concepts and structures described in Figures 1 and 2.

Configuration 304 describes a gesture recognition configuration in which each camera is located on a single surface of an electronic device, such as a smart phone. Importantly, the daisy-chain configuration provides many advantages for gesture recognition. As mentioned above, the use of daisy chain helps to reduce processing time and therefore more accurately recognizes fast gestures.

Configuration 306 is to view the vehicle monitoring system in a top view. Each camera is located on a different side of the car. It should be understood that each side of the car may contain more or fewer cameras. The high speed movement of the mobile device helps to reduce the processing time of the camera daisy chain configuration in configuration 306, so that fast processing times help to accurately and quickly capture the imaging of the surrounding environment. Within configuration 306, each camera 307a-307d can be configured as a daisy chain, as described above. Moreover, CPU 308 can be operated in a similar manner to operating host 108, as described above. The CPU 308 can be a computer of the primary vehicle or a separate CPU for assisting visual recognition, such as a visual lane assist computer, automatic headlight control, wiper assist control, parking assist control, brake assist control, or use of visual image data. To assist other vehicle operations. The CPU can receive and analyze the image data received by each of the cameras 307a-307d and utilize the above information to assist in vehicle operation.

4 illustrates a method 400 of displaying a camera daisy chain to generate an image in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The method 400 uses the daisy chain 100 of FIG. 1 to perform the following steps: In an optional step 402, the method 400 calibrates each The camera and the calibration settings are stored in the OTP memory to help coordinate image fusion between multiple cameras. For example, by the processor or host 108 to perform step 402, each camera 102, 104, 106 is calibrated so that the image data generated by combining the image data of each camera has no overlapping blur phenomenon image data.

In step 404, a plurality of cameras capture image data. Each camera 102, 104, 106 begins capturing image data 113, 115, 117 of the external scene and storing the image data in the respective column buffers 118, 120, 122. For example, to capture image data, timing signals are transmitted from host 108 via I ² C bus line 110 to simultaneously read the primitive rows of each array 112 , 114 , 116 and store them in respective buffers.

In step 406, the first camera image data stored in the first camera buffer in step 404 is combined with the second camera image data. For example, the first camera image data is transmitted from the first camera to A second camera downstream of the first camera, the image data from the first camera is combined with the second camera image data at the second camera. In an embodiment of step 406, the first row of image data in the buffer 118 is transmitted to the MIPI Tx 130, and the image data is transmitted to the MIPI Rx 126 of the camera 104 via the MIPI Tx 130, and the image data 113 is stored. And combined with the first row of image data 115 captured by the second camera 104 in the buffer 120. Step 406 is performed after camera 102 captures the first row of image data 113, but step 406 is performed prior to capturing full array 112 image data.

In step 408, the combined image data of the first and second cameras stored in the second camera buffer in step 406 is combined with the image data of the additional camera. For example, the combined image data of the first row of image data (including the combination of the first row of image data of array 114 and the first row of image data of array 112) is transmitted to image 116 of array 116 with the third camera. The first row of combinations. In an embodiment of operation step 408, the image data 113+115 combined by the image data 113 and the image data 115 of the second camera 104 is transmitted to the MIPI Rx128 of the third camera 106 via the MIPI Tx 132, and continues. The combined image data 113+115 data will be combined with the first row of image data 117 of the additional camera buffer (i.e., buffer 122) within the additional camera (i.e., camera 106). Step 408 will be repeated in each additional downstream camera until the combined image data is transmitted to host 108.

Each row of image data captured by the daisy chain camera will proceed to steps 406-408. In step 410, method 400 combines the existing combined image data rows with the previous combined image data rows. In an operational embodiment, host 108 receives the merged second row of image data from camera 106 (i.e., via MIPI Tx 134) and combines the second row of image data with the first row of image data.

In step 412, method 400 outputs a panoramic image that includes panoramic images of all of the merged rows of combined image data from each camera. For example, host 108 outputs a panoramic image that includes a panoramic image of the combined image data merged by each camera 102, 104, and 106.

The above embodiments all use the I ² C protocol to control the timing of image capture sequencing. The two wires between the two I ² C devices are in data communication, thereby reducing the space required for the daisy chain of the image system. For example, each device is connected to a clock and a data string line, which respectively control timing and data information data. Within the I ² C agreement, each device can be a primary device or a secondary device. The master device is responsible for the busbar at the current time, controls the clock, generates start and stop signals, and transmits or receives data to the secondary device, as well as transmitting data or receiving data from the secondary device. The secondary device controls the received data according to the bus. In general, there is no function to transfer data between secondary devices.

Figure 5 is a diagram showing an address identification code 500 for each device within the daisy chain 100 of Figure 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, e.g., each array, MIPI Tx, MIPI Rx has an identification code associated therewith. In addition, the particular device has a unique identification code whereby, when the primary device transmits a signal to one or more secondary devices, the signal is simultaneously played to all secondary devices. Each device compares the first 7 bits after the START bit with its own address to determine if the primary device is "talking" with a particular secondary device. If the first 7-bit matches its own address, the secondary device will identify itself as the master. The bit of the address identifier belongs to the read/write bit. It should be understood that the address identification code can include a positioning portion and a programmable portion. In addition, address identifiers that are more or less associated with FIG. 5 may be used without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

Figure 6 is a diagram showing a data transfer diagram 600 for a master device to write to a secondary device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In Figure 6, blank padding indicates that the data autonomous device is transmitting to the secondary device data, while dashed padding indicates that data is sent from the secondary device to the primary device data. In data transmission 600, the transmission begins with an identification code 500 and a write bit 601. Continuing, the primary device waits for authentication 602 from the secondary device, and upon receiving the authentication 602, the primary device can begin data transmission. The secondary device periodically transmits the authentication data throughout the transmission until the primary device sends a stop command.

Figure 7 is a diagram showing a data transfer diagram 700 for a master device to read a secondary device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In Figure 7, blank padding indicates that the data autonomous device is transmitting to the secondary device data, while dashed padding indicates that data is sent from the secondary device to the primary device data. In data transmission 700, the transmission begins and includes an identification code 500 and a read bit 701. Successively, the primary device waits for authentication 702 from the secondary device. Upon receiving the authentication 702, the secondary device begins transmitting data to the primary device. The master device periodically transmits the authentication 704 data of the data received by the secondary device until the master device transmits a stop command.

Figure 8 is a diagram showing a general call 800 displayed on an I ² C bus line in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The universal call 800 includes a first byte 802 for specifying a secondary device call addressing and a second byte 804 for specifying an action. For example, the first byte 802 can indicate that the full array is addressed, and the second byte 804 can indicate the start of capturing image data. In an operational embodiment, host 108 of FIG. 1 transmits universal call 800 to cameras 102, 104, 106 via I ² C bus line 110. As described above, the primary device can be addressed more than one secondary device at a time.

In some embodiments, the second byte can indicate that the device employs a programmable portion of its identification code (ie, identification code 500). In this aspect, the last bit of the second byte may be 0 or 1. When the last bit is 0, all the secondary devices are reset and accommodate the programmable portion of the address, or Yes, the programmable portion of its address is not reconfigured; when the last bit of the second byte is 1, the call placed by the master device does not have any previous information to connect to the secondary device address. Accordingly, the primary device makes a call using its own address so that the secondary device can identify the source of the message.

The I ² C protocol used in the daisy chain of imaging systems has many advantages. For example, the I ² C protocol assists in camera initialization and synchronization, thereby helping to reduce blurring between the panoramic image blending portions. For example, within the daisy chain 100 of Figure 1, the image data collected by each array 112, 114, 116 is used as a synchronization basis for a general call, as discussed above in FIG.

The present invention is not limited to the specific details described above, and modifications or modifications made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention are equivalent to the equivalents of the present invention. Or design, and should be included in the scope of the following patent application. The above description is a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and those skilled in the art should understand that the present invention is not intended to limit the scope of patent claims claimed herein. The scope of patent application and its equivalent fields are determined.

102, 104, 106‧‧‧ cameras

100‧‧‧ daisy chain

108‧‧‧Host

110‧‧‧Data lines, lines

112, 114, 116‧‧‧ array

113, 115, 117‧‧‧ image data

118, 120, 122‧‧ ‧ buffer

124, 126, 128‧‧‧ MIPI Receiver

130, 132, 134‧‧‧ MIPI transmitter

(1)-(11)‧‧‧ arrows

Claims (20)

A method for generating a panoramic image includes: performing a capturing step of capturing an image data by a plurality of cameras, and storing the image data in a memory buffer of each of the cameras; performing a transfer Step, the one of the plurality of cameras transmits the image data to the downstream camera of the plurality of cameras adjacent to the upstream camera; and performs a combining step in which the image data from the adjacent upstream camera is The image data of the downstream camera is combined to become a combined image data. The method of claim 1, wherein the capturing step comprises simultaneously capturing the image data from the plurality of cameras. The method of claim 1, wherein the capturing step comprises capturing the image data from an image array of each of the cameras as a series of rows of the image data. The method of claim 3, wherein the transmitting step is performed after the upstream camera captures the first row of the series of rows and before the upstream camera captures the last row of the series of rows. The method of claim 1, further comprising: transmitting the combined image data from the downstream camera to an additional downstream camera of the plurality of cameras; and in the additional downstream camera, combining the combined image data with The image data of the additional downstream data is combined to become an additional combined image data. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting step comprises utilizing a transmitter in the adjacent upstream camera to access the image data stored in the memory buffer in the adjacent upstream camera, and Transmitting the accessed image data to a receiver of the downstream camera; The combining step includes storing the image data from the adjacent upstream camera from the receiver of the downstream camera to the memory buffer of the downstream camera. The method of claim 1, further comprising a host generating a call signal to control data transmission between the plurality of cameras. The method of claim 7, further comprising transmitting the call signal on an internal integrated circuit (I ² C) bus. The method of claim 7, wherein the call signal comprises a first byte and a second byte, wherein the first byte is used to indicate an address identifier, which is used to identify a Or a plurality of the camera and camera sub-components, wherein the second byte is used to indicate an action by the camera, a memory buffer in each camera, and the transmitter in each camera Generated by one or more addressing. A system for generating a panoramic image, the system comprising a plurality of cameras, each camera comprising: an imaging array for capturing image data of one scene; and a receiver for receiving proximity of one of the plurality of cameras The image data of the upstream camera; a memory buffer for combining the image data received from the adjacent upstream camera with the image data captured by the imaging array to form a combined image Data, and storing the combined image data in the memory buffer; and a transmitter for transmitting the stored combined image data to a downstream camera of one of the plurality of cameras. The system of claim 10, further comprising a host for coordinating data transmission between the plurality of cameras. The system of claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of cameras simultaneously captures the image data. The system of claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of cameras is coupled via an internal integrated circuit (I ² C) bus bar. The system of claim 11, wherein the host comprises the plurality of cameras, one of which is a primary camera and the others are secondary cameras. The system of claim 11, wherein the host comprises an external processor. The system of claim 10, wherein the image data is a series of rows, the image data being transmitted from the adjacent upstream camera to the downstream camera at a time. The system of claim 16, wherein after capturing the first row of the series of rows, and before capturing the last row of the series, the upstream camera begins to transmit the image data to a first downstream. Camera. The system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of cameras are located on each side of an object. The system of claim 10, further comprising: a respective address identifier for indicating each of the plurality of cameras, the imaging array, the memory buffer, the receiver, the a transmitter; and an internal integrated circuit (I ² C) bus that couples the host to each of the cameras; wherein the host transmits a call signal via the I ² C bus to coordinate each Data transmission between the cameras, the call signal indicating the address identifier of the host address. The system of claim 19, wherein the call signal comprises a first byte and a second byte, the first byte indicating an address identifier for addressing, the second byte Instructing an action is performed by at least one camera sub-element.